Medicare Advantage plans can expand on traditional Medicare coverage to help with dental, hearing and vision services without even raising your monthly premiums. That’s because Medicare Advantage plans are subsidized by the federal government.

These plans do have some restrictions, though. With the exception of emergency situations, Medicare Advantage plans require you to get services through their network of providers. There’s usually no coverage when you go outside of the network. Needing a doctor who’s not in your plan’s list of providers is one of the reasons why you may need to rethink your choice of plans.

If you decide that, for whatever reason, the rules of your plan don’t fit your situation, you can switch back to traditional Medicare between January 1 and February 14, 2012. You may also join a Medicare Prescription Drug plan at the same time, since you’ll be losing the drug coverage of the Advantage plan.

Before you make any decision, take a few minutes to find out how Medicare coverage will be different next year. We’ll be happy to answer questions for you whether you call us directly or join us for our Question and Answer Medicare Teleseminar. Just sign up on our website for free and bring your questions. We’ll be discussing Medigap insurance, as well as Medicare Advantage plans.

Wiley Long is founder and president of Medigap Advisors, and is passionate about helping people navigate the confusing waters of Medicare. He is the author of The Medicare Playbook: Designing Your Successful Health Coverage Strategy, a clear and simple explanation so you can make the most of your Medicare coverage. For more information visit www.MediGapAdvisors.com.